Project Overview 

The Laguna Canyon Road: Protect & Connect project aims to improve safety for all users, enhance sustainability, and manage congestion along one of the only direct routes to Laguna Beach - the Laguna Canyon Road (LCR) corridor (SR-133). The project is focused on addressing safety concerns, plans to underground utilities, and considering multi-modal transportation options. This corridor provides residents, businesses, and visitors critical access to the city from Interstate 405 (I-405) and State Route 73 (SR 73) and serves as an evacuation route.

Features being considered include:

  • Underground utilities
  • Bikeways and pedestrian paths
  • Improved crossings
  • Signal enhancements
  • Enhanced transit and trolley stops
  • Native and low-water use landscaping

Project Goals

  • Improve safety by removing utility poles and undergrounding the overhead utility lines, which will eliminate the potential source of wildfire, improve overall aesthetics and remove obstacles to reduce collision potential.
  • Provide multi-modal improvements that will encourage use of the corridor by pedestrians, transit users and bicyclists of all ages and abilities.
  • Develop innovative solutions to improve traffic flow without adding roadway capacity.

Get Involved

We want to hear about your priorities for Laguna Canyon Road. Get involved in the project and share your voice. Check this page often to learn about upcoming events and project updates.

Bookmark this page and follow @lagunabeachgov on social media to get involved and stay up to date with the project.

Take Our Survey!

The project survey is a chance to provide your input on how you use the road which will influence recommended improvements that should be made to the corridor. Click on the image below to take the brief, 5-10-minute survey. Please share your experience so the road can be made to better serve your traveling needs!

History and Background

Laguna Canyon Road (State Route 133) is the only direct route from State Route 73 and Interstate 405 to access Laguna Beach. This heavily traveled corridor, particularly the 2.5-mile stretch from Canyon Acres Dr. to El Toro Rd., is used by pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and public transit users. Safety concerns along the existing two-lane highway have made it a priority target for improvement projects over the last several years.

In 2014, the City of Laguna Beach led the SR133/Laguna Canyon Road Task Force to start a dialogue about Laguna Canyon Road and possible alternatives to improve safety, congestion and accessibility in the corridor. The task force was composed of City Officials, residents, Caltrans, and other stakeholders such as conservation groups who convened to discuss and evaluate numerous proposed alternatives. The Final Report was presented to the City Council on September 8, 2015. Since that time, project development has continued.  Below is a project timeline showing past and proposed future milestones.

Project Timeline

Previous Milestones:

  • September 8, 2015 - Laguna Canyon Task Force's Final Report presented to City Council
  • June 13, 2017 - Award of contract to HDR for Project Study Report (PSR)
  • July 23, 2019 - City Council accepted the Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Report
    • Listed Laguna Canyon Road as a Long-Term project
    • Directed staff to proceed with a Cost/Benefit Analysis for acquiring LCR
  • September 24, 2020 - Assembly Bill No. 2172 authorizing Route 133 relinquishment
  • September 21, 2021 - Cost/Benefit Analysis presented to City Council
  • September 27, 2022 - Caltrans approved the PSR
  • May 16, 2023 - Award of Contract to Mark Thomas & Company for Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) Phase
  • January 9, 2024 – City Council approved the action to proceed with relinquishment

Advancing the Project:

  • Begin Project Outreach: Early 2024
  • Prepare Draft Alternatives: Spring/Summer 2024
  • Select Preferred Alternative: Summer/Fall 2024
  • Preliminary Engineering: Summer 2024-Early Winter 2026
  • Public Review & Final Environmental Document: Winter-Spring 2026

 Project Boundaries

State Highway 133 (SR-133)/Laguna Canyon Road between El Toro Road intersection and Canyon Acres Drive in the City of Laguna Beach.

Project Documents

RESOURCE DOCUMENTS